Technology Advances Thin Film Solar
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by: AnneHarvester | Total views: 37 | Word Count: 297
During the first part of this new century, thin film solar technology has burst into the commercial market. With flexibility and applicability, this material has the ability to revolutionize this industry once again. Efficiency issues are being advanced upon at great speeds, while costs for making and producing the power are steadily decreasing.
Demand and technology are major driving forces in bringing the cost of a product down to where the mass market can take over. Production of a single watt of energy from the sun has decreased in cost 250%.
With the flexible material, buildings can apply sheets to existing roofs to produce power. Building materials will be embedded and whole structures can become a small power-generating site. Currently this technology can be found on roof tiles, windows, and exterior building wrap.
Not only is the price of manufacturing a measurement for the industry, so is grid parity. This is when a competing source of energy reaches the same cost to generate as the current grid's source. Therefore, parity is when the price to generate energy from the sun meets the price of generating nuclear, coal, and natural gas.
Parity has been reached in Hawaii. Sunnier areas will be able to reach the threshold sooner than other areas. Estimates (for the U. S.) range from as close as 2015 for the sunny regions to reach the even cost benchmark, while others extend this date beyond 2016.
Parity will also be affected by any rise or decline in current energy costs. However, it looks like the thin film solar market is quickly coming to the commercial market. Both generating and production costs continue to decline at a faster pace than predictions. The sun may soon become a true source of clean energy. Learn more about this technology by researching on the internet.
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